Door Mounted  Support Apparatus for a punching bag

ABSTRACT

A door mounted support apparatus for a punching bag having two main components: (1) a main support bracket; and (2) a punching bag support bracket. The main support bracket includes a first horizontal bar and a second opposite side horizontal bar. The first and second horizontal bars are connected via two parallel curved arms. The main support bracket is mounted to a door frame by extending the first horizontal bar in front of the side door jambs and hooking the second horizontal bar behind the top door jamb. Adjustable clamps on the curved arms and on the first horizontal bar are used to tighten and secure the main support bracket to the door frame. The punching bag support bracket is then inserted into slots on the first horizontal bar and locked into position with locking pins. A punching bag is suspended from the punching bag support bracket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the growing field of home exercise equipment there are many new exercise devices and systems being introduced. These devices and systems are appealing to consumers who often prefer to exercise in the comfort of their home. Products ranging from simple push-up assistance devices to complete home gyms are now available to consumers who lack the desire or inclination to work out in a traditional gym.

At the same time, there is a strong interest in various forms of boxing among pro and semi-pro athletes as well as the average consumer looking for a different type of work-out regimen. The gym has been the traditional setting to find boxing equipment such as punching bags. This is likely due to the fact that a punching bag requires sufficient space and a heavy support stand or other support structure to secure the boxing bag. These requirements can make it difficult to set up a boxing bag in a home or apartment with limited space. There is therefore a need for a safe and secure way to set up a punching bag at home.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a door frame mounted support apparatus for a punching bag. The support apparatus includes a main support bracket and a punching bag support bracket. The main support bracket is made up of a first horizontal bar, and a second opposite side horizontal bar. Two parallel curved arms connect the first horizontal bar to the second horizontal bar. The main support bracket is mounted on the door frame by maneuvering the first horizontal bar in front of the side door jambs and hooking the second horizontal bar behind the top door jamb.

The first horizontal bar includes two adjustable swivel clamps, one on each side of the horizontal bar, that clamp the side door jambs. Each swivel clamp has a corresponding control knob to adjust the degree of tightness of the clamp around the door jamb. Similarly, the parallel curved arms each include an adjustable clamp and control knob to further secure and tighten the main support bracket to the top door jamb. The first horizontal bar also includes two slots for receiving the height adjustable punching bag support bracket. The punching bag support bracket has two vertical legs that curve together into the horizontal plane to form an L-shaped bracket. A plate having a hook is attached to the underside of the horizontal section of the punching bag support bracket.

Each leg of the punching bag support bracket has spaced apart pin holes that selectively align with a pin hole in its corresponding slot when the legs are inserted therein. A locking pin is inserted through the aligned pin holes to lock the punching bag support bracket into position at a preferred height. A punching bag may be suspended from the hook attached to the plate on the punching bag support bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the door mounted support Apparatus for a punching bag

FIG. 2 depicts a front of view of the present invention in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the present invention in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the present invention in FIG. 1 attached to a door frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to punching bag support devices. More specifically, the invention is a door mounted support apparatus for a punching bag.

Referring to FIG. 1, the door mounted support apparatus for a punching bag includes two main components: (1) a main support bracket; and (2) a punching bag support bracket. The main support bracket has first and second opposite side horizontal bars connected together by two parallel curved arms. The first horizontal bar extends in front of the side door jambs of a door, while the second horizontal bar hooks behind the top door jamb. The first horizontal bar includes two opposite side adjustable swivel clamps. Each swivel clamp has a swivel arm at one end and a control knob at the other end. The swivel arms swivel behind the side door jambs, thereby clamping the first horizontal bar to the side door jambs. The control knob is used to tighten or loosen the swivel clamp to the side door jambs.

The first horizontal bar also includes two opposite side rectangular slots for receiving the legs of the punching bag support bracket. Each slot includes a pin hole on its front surface for receiving a locking pin. In a preferred embodiment, the slots are positioned adjacent to the swivel clamp control knobs, but they could be positioned elsewhere along the first horizontal bar.

As previously mentioned and shown in the Figures, the two parallel curved arms connect the first horizontal bar to the second horizontal bar. The parallel curved arms are hinged connected to the first horizontal bar via two semi-circular sleeves attached to opposite sides of the first horizontal bar, as shown in FIG. 2. The end of each curved arm is inserted into its corresponding semi-circular sleeve and attached thereto via a hinge. This hinged connection allows the curved arms to rotate relative to the fixed horizontal bar. The opposite ends of the parallel curved arms are rigidly connected to the second horizontal bar and may be bolted, welded, fastened or attached thereto by any other appropriate means.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the semi-circular sleeves has a plurality of spaced apart pin holes positioned radially along their periphery for selective rotational alignment with the pin hole at the end of each curved arm. Once the selected pin holes are aligned, a pin may be inserted through the aligned holes to lock the arms in position at a desired angle. The angle of the curved arms can thus be adjusted relative to the first horizontal bar. The ability to adjust this angle helps achieve the best possible fit of the main support bracket around the door jambs.

As shown in FIG. 1, each parallel curved arm also has an adjustable clamp attached to it. The adjustable clamps are in parallel alignment with each other. Furthermore, each adjustable clamp has a control knob at one end and a gripper at the other end. The gripper may be used to grip the top of the door jamb, such that the top door jamb is sandwiched between the gripper and the second horizontal bar. Each control knob may then be used to tighten or loosen its corresponding gripper from the top door jamb.

The second major component of the invention is the punching bag support bracket shown in FIG. 1. The punching bag support bracket has two, parallel vertical legs with a plurality of spaced apart pin holes along each leg. The legs curve and merge together in the horizontal plane to form an L-shaped bracket. A plate is attached to the bottom of the horizontal section of the bracket and a hook is attached to the bottom of the plate.

The legs of the punching bag support bracket slide into the two slots on the first horizontal bar so that the pin holes on each leg of the punching bag support bracket selectively align with the pin hole in each slot. A pin can then be inserted through the selected aligned pin holes to lock the punching bag support bracket into position at a desired height as seen in FIG. 2. A punching bag may be suspended from the hook on the bottom of the punching bag support bracket plate. The punching bag may be a heavy bag, speed bag or agility bag.

The door mounted support apparatus for a punching bag may be mounted on the door frame (i.e. around the door jambs) without the use of screws, nails or drilling which can cause damage to the home. The main support bracket is mounted to a door frame by maneuvering the first horizontal bar in front of the side door jambs and hooking the second horizontal bar behind the top door jamb. The adjustable clamps are used to tighten and secure the main support bracket to the door frame. The legs of the punching bag support bracket are then inserted into the corresponding slots on the first horizontal bar and locked into position with locking pins. A punching bag is suspended from a hook on the underside of the plate on the punching bag support bracket.

The two main components that form the door mounted support apparatus (i.e. the main support bracket and the punching bag support bracket) are easy to connect and disconnect. Similarly, the main support bracket is easy to attach and detach from a door frame. The door mounted support apparatus may be made of suitable material such as metal, plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), wood, or some combination of these materials. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. 

1. A door mounted support apparatus for a punching bag that will allow the support of a heavy bag, speed bag or agility bag mounted on the door frame by maneuvering the first horizontal bar in front of the side door jambs and hooking the second horizontal bar behind the top door jamb. The apparatus in claim 1 will have support brackets that mount to the top and side door jambs in order to equally distribute the weight of heavy punching bags along the structure of the door. The support brackets according to claim 2, will have a first horizontal bar that includes two adjustable swivel clamps, one on each side of the horizontal bar, that clamp the side door jambs in which each swivel clamp will have corresponding control knobs to adjust the degree of tightness of the clamp around the door jamb and the parallel curved arms will each include an adjustable clamp and control knob to further secure and tighten the main support bracket to the top door jamb. 